Happy Thanksgiving
Month: November 2019
The Terrace Grille – Lakeland, FL
Lakeland is located in Central Florida in between Tampa and Orlando. It is home to many lakes, hence the name. Downtown you will find Lake Mirror, breweries, cigar bars, food trucks, craft shops, and so many other great things to see and do.
The Terrace Hotel is one of those places that is a must visit in downtown Lakeland. It is a hotel from 1924 that has been restored to its former glory.
Located inside the hotel is the Terrace Grille. They serve a nice Sunday brunch.
Naturally I started off with a mimosa. If you have read my blog before, anytime I have brunch, having a mimosa is a must.
There were several items on the menu that peaked my interest, including a quiche. I was feeling like pancakes so I ordered their classic breakfast because it came with pancakes.
I got my eggs scrambled with a side of crispy bacon. The pancakes were the perfect petite size. I tried them before I put maple syrup on them. They were very sweet. I have never tasted a batter like this before. Adding butter to them put a salty complement to the taste. I put a little maple syrup on some bites to add even more sweetness.
This was a really nice place to have brunch with friends. Whether you are staying at the hotel or not, the Terrace Grille is a great spot to get a bite to eat.
Check them out at http://www.terracehotel.com/
Enjoy!
T
The Whole Enchilada – Winter Garden, FL
The town of Winter Garden has a cute downtown main street. There are several places to sit in Centennial Park and enjoy music or people watching. There are walking and biking trails, and several shops and restaurants.
It was around lunch time and I went to check out The Whole Enchilada.
The restaurant has a walk-up counter to order. Then they bring the food to your table. It is a great set up. It really allows for customers to come and go quickly.
I placed my order and headed over to their salsa bar. They have four different salsas ro choose from. I made sure I tried all of them with my chips.
- Smooth Pico – a mild salsa full of chopped up tomatoes and onions with cilantro
- Verde – a green salsa with a tangy flavor
- Roasted Tomato – crushed tomatoes with a smoky taste
- Mango Salsa – sweet flavor with chunks of fresh mango. This was my favorite.
The chips and queso were the perfect starter. The queso was creamy with no spice at all. I did combine a little of the pico with the queso to add some texture.
The tacos I ordered were brought to the table. I ordered the Hasselhoff. These are classic tacos filled with ground beef and topped with jack and cheddar cheeses. I got them in a crunchy shell, but a soft shell is also an option.
The beef on the taco needed a little extra seasoning. I added the mango salsa to them as well as some of the queso. This created a combination of sweet and salty.
The Whole Enchilada was a great place for lunch. They have a nice roof top bar and seating area that is perfect for a nice summer evening.
Check them out at www.TWEFreshmex.com
Enjoy!
T
Donovan’s – San Diego, CA
I love a good steakhouse. When visiting San Diego, I was lucky to get to visit Donovan’s Steakhouse. They are a high-end restaurant known naturally for their steaks.
When I walked in, I headed straight to the bar where I got to enjoy a fun cocktail.
I ordered the Orange Mark. It was a blend of green mark Russian vodka, Cointreau, fresh lime juice, and San Pellegrino blood orange.
This drink was sweet and smooth. I loved the orange flavor. It was not overpowering, yet still refreshing. It went down very easy.
After pre-dinner cocktails, we headed over to our table. To my surprise when I opened my menu it lit up. It was the coolest thing and it was really necessary because the restaurant was dark inside.
The table started with a giant seafood tower. The presentation was spectacular. It came with raw oysters, crab legs, jumbo shrimp, and lobster tails. I tried everything except the raw oysters.
The crab meat was sweet and did not need any sauces to be enjoyed. The shrimp were so big I needed to cut them in half in order to dip them in the cocktail sauce. For the lobster, normally I would want my lobster hot and with melted butter. But this lobster tail was cold. I really enjoyed it cold. The sweet taste came out more because it was cold. The meat was also very tender. I did eat a few pieces with cocktail sauce for a little bite of horseradish.
Not long after finishing the fresh seafood, the steaks came out. I ordered an 8oz filet mignon. Rather than a plain, medium filet changed it up and got it Oscar style.
By ordering the filet this way, I got Alaskan king crab meat on top and then it was covered with a house made béarnaise sauce. It was extremely over the top. it was really tasty but in the end I think the crab and sauce actually took away from the flavor of the steak. Plus it cost a lot extra to do it this way and it was not worth the price.
Nevertheless, I still enjoyed the steak after I took some of the béarnaise sauce off. There was a nice salty, grilled taste. It was a perfect medium too.
I also enjoyed a glass of red wine with the steak. It helped enhance the flavors of the meat.
On the side I got two pieces of asparagus. It was grilled up and also had a slight salty taste. I really wish I had gotten a few more pieces.
Along with the steak I got a classic baked potato. I made sure they put butter and bacon on it. The butter made the potato creamy and the bacon added crunch.
The table also ordered a side of creamed spinach to share. I had a little taste of it. It reminded me of a spinach dip that you would eat with tortilla chips while watching football. It was good but I was starting to get full and wanted to save room for dessert.
Speaking of dessert, I shared the fresh made crème brulee. It came with fresh strawberries on top. It was the perfect sixe for sharing.
The sugar was caramelized to perfection. It had a slight saltiness to it and added great crunch to the cream when eaten together. The cream filling itself was sweet and smooth. I am so glad I ended my meal with this dessert. The sweetness helped balance out the saltiness of the steak.
If you are looking for a wonderful steak while in San Diego, then check out Donovan’s. They are a little pricy so check out their menu first at www.donovanssteakhouse.com
Enjoy!
T
Break Awayz – Flagler Beach, FL
When visiting a town or city I have never been to sometimes it is a challenge to know where the good hang outs and restaurants are. I find that asking the locals is a great way to start. But there is something even better to try, ask a local bartender. Why? They will know the hot spots that stay open late. Bartenders and kitchen staff from other restaurants want to go out and party too, unfortunately they have to wait till their places close. I have discovered tons of places that stay open late just to make sure they can serve their peers.
That is the exact reason that I went to Break Awayz. My bartender at Tortugas recommended this restaurant. She said she goes here all the time after work.
What people love about Break Awayz is the huge assortment of beer and wine options plus their food selection. So I pulled a seat up to the bar and started looking over their beers. I wanted a beer that was more on the lighter side that had a fruity taste. That is exactly what I found in the Watermelon Dorado Ballast Povant. I could smell the watermelon when I held the glass to my nose. And sure enough, this beer was full of watermelon flavor. It was a sweet taste that was very refreshing.
Now it was time for food. There were a few things that caught my attention – tacos, hummus dip, and several tuna dishes.
I settled on the Ahi tuna plate. It was a huge tuna that was seared perfectly on the outside and a soft pink on the inside. They sprinkled sesame seeds on the outside that added crunch. As soon as I took a bite I could taste the flavor of the sesame oil that they cooked the tuna in. It added a nutty flavor to the fish. It was amazing.
It also came with a side of freshly steamed Jasmine rice and a seaweed salad. The seaweed was chilled and it had a sweet taste not salty. It paired well with the sesame accents from the tuna.
This stop to Break Awayz was the perfect ending to a fun night. If you are looking for a great spot you need to visit. Check them out at http://www.break-awayz.com/
Enjoy!
T
Tortugas – Flagler Beach, FL
When people think about Florida beaches I am sure that Daytona Beach is top of mind. However, about 30 minutes north is a small community called Flagler Beach. This beach was named after Henry Flagler who was an oil tycoon and a Florida railroad developer. Do not think that this is a quiet beach town because there are several hot spots that I found on my most recent visit.
One of those spots was Tortugas. Located right across the street from the beautiful Atlantic Ocean sits this two story restaurant.
This place was hopping with a live music and tons of fire pits to keep yourself warm from the ocean breeze.
The music the band was playing was energizing and it got me in the mood for a fun cocktail. I went for a “Painkiller”. It was rum mixed with orange and pineapple juices plus fresh coconut cream. It was not overly sweet which surprised me. The refreshing taste paired well with the salty ocean breeze.
I was not super hungry when I got there but I did want to try something off their menu. I went for the conch chowder. It was a big bowl filled with a tomato based broth and fresh vegetables, including big chunks of potato. The chowder was loaded with pieces of fresh conch. It was very hearty and filling.
If you are looking for a fun beach bar for during the day or at night, Tortugas is the spot. With their live music and fun drinks you can easily spend all day there.
Check out their seafood menu at http://www.tortugasflorida.com/
Enjoy!
T
Lehto’s Pasties – St. Ignace, MI
There is a specialty food item that visitors must try when they are in Michigan. That food item is called Pasties. These are essentially a meat pie.
These hand held treats date back to the turn of the century. They were created for the workers in the mines. They needed something that they could easily carry with them. Those pasties were filled with different meats. The pie shell trapped in the heat so when the workers were ready to eat them, they were still warm. A side of gravy is also served so that the pies could be dipped. Some stories say that the miners were able to warm the gravy up with their lanterns.
With a rich history like this, trying the pasties before leaving Michigan was a must. I was in St. Ignace, which is across the lake from Mackinac Island. This is where Lehto’s Pasties is located. They have been serving up these pasties since 1947.
It was a small place and their menu was simple. I got one beef and one chicken pasties with a side of gravy.
These pasties just came out of the fryer. They were extremely hot. I could barely hold them. These needed to cool down for a good 15 minutes at least. So I got them to go.
After letting them cool down, I cut them open. Steam still poured out. These pasties were extremely dense. I actually split these with my friends riding in the car with me.
The shell was flakey and helped soak up the gravy when I dipped it in. The gravy added a savory component on top of the meaty filling. The meat was tender.
There were layers and layers of meat. That is why the pastie was so heavy.
This simple meat pie was very filling. It definitely helped fill an empty stomach. It was different from any other meat pie I had before.
If you are visiting Michigan make sure to try pasties. Lehto’s version were delicious. And if you fall in love with them, you can order them and have them shipped to your home.
Visit their website at www.lehtospasties.com
Enjoy!
T
Pink Pony Bar – Mackinac Island, MI
Mackinac Island, Michigan is a really special place. It is located in Lake Huron between Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsula. What makes this place so special? There are no cars on this island. You can only get there via ferry or seaplane. To get around the island you can walk, ride a bike, or take a horse drawn carriage. It really takes you back to a simpler time.
There are many things to do around the island. This includes eating and drinking. That is exactly what I decided to so when I visited the Pink Pony Bar. It is located inside the Chippewa Hotel. This pink themed restaurant has been around since 1948.
There are pink pony painted murals around the bar. There are pink lights and accents everywhere as well. Since pink is my favorite color I loved it all.
I started at the bar for a snack and a beer. They had a nice selection of craft beers to choose from. I went for the Pink Pony Ale, the namesake of the bar.
For my snack I got the soft pretzel sticks. They were served with a side of homemade cheese sauce for dipping. And they had whole grain mustard. The pretzels were nice and soft. The dough was sweet and it was accented by the salt coating the outside. The cheese sauce was fantastic. It was so creamy. It tasted perfect with the pretzel.
After a little while I met up with the group I was with and we grabbed a table for dinner. Out table had a great view out the large windows overlooking the water.
We got a few appetizers to share. The onion rings came out in a pretty cool basket. They were stacked on top of each other, creating a tower. The outside coating was super crunchy. The onion on the inside was soft and sweet. These were perfect for sharing.
The fried calamari was good to share as well. Each piece was also really crispy. They put a generous amount of parmesan cheese on top which was a nice addition.
The flatbread was the perfect size for an appetizer. The dough was slightly sweet with a little smoky taste. The fresh mozzarella was slightly melted and still in large chunks. They had great roasted tomatoes spread around which added a slight acidic taste to the creamy cheese.
Because of all the appetizers I filled up on, I ended up only ordering the French onion soup for dinner. The crock came out with a huge slice of provolone cheese melted on top of two slices of bread. The bread had soaked up the broth so well that it easily broke apart with my spoon.
The caramelized onions in the soup were so sweet. I loved how many onions they used too. The broth itself was sweet and savory. Sometimes the broth of onion soup can be really salty, this was perfect.
The food was great at the Pink Pony Bar. It was a great place to grab a drink or stay for a meal. Add this place to the must visit list if you are in Mackinac Island.
Check them out at www.pinkponybar.com or www.pinkponymackinac.com
Enjoy!
T
Murdick’s Fudge – Mackinac Island, MI
When I told people I was going to visit Mackinac Island in Michigan, they all said I had to make sure to get some fudge. That is what they are famous for. There are a few places to go but visiting Murdick’s is a must.
Murdick’s Fudge is the original fudge shop. They have been making the creamy treat for over 125 years.
Before I even opened the door, I could smell the chocolate fudge being made. When I opened the door, the sweet aroma just hit me. I was in heaven.
As I walked around the shop I was able to watch them make the fudge from start to finish. It all started with the copper pots. All the ingredients were mixed in these huge pots over an open flame.
Once the liquid chocolate mixture was ready, they poured it onto a marble table that had a wooden frame around the edges. This prevented the liquid chocolate from spilling onto the floor.
Then they worked the fudge with an oversized spatula like item. They pushed it and turned it across the table.
As I watched them do this I could see that the chocolate mixture was starting to cool. As it cooled it started to become firmer. They continued to push and turn the chocolate.
Eventually they removed the wooden frame. They then started folding the chocolate and I could see it starting to form the texture of fudge.
They continued to fold it until they created a really long log.
After it cooled, they came through and started cutting the fudge into small slices. Some went into the cases to be sold and others were packed into boxes.
They had so many varieties of fudge to choose from.
I had to at least try the chocolate since I watched them make it. It was creamy and smooth. It melted in my mouth. It had such a rich taste and it was extremely sweet. It is exactly what fudge should be.
I also got some peanut butter fudge to go. I figured I could enjoy it on my trip back home. It too was smooth and creamy. The flavor and aroma of the peanut butter was amazing. It was as if I opened a jar of it and took a deep breath.
You must go see them make fudge at Murdick’s. They do it the traditional way and they put so much care and love into it. You will definitely want to buy some, you will not be able to stop yourself.
Check out their rich history as well as all their flavors at www.originalmurdicksfudge.com. Plus, you can order online and have it shipped throughout the US and Canada.
Enjoy!
T
The Pasta House – Kinde, MI
During my trip to Michigan I drove through the small town of Kinde. It was around lunch time, so I decided to check out a local restaurant called The Pasta House.
It is located on the main street of Kinde. It is right across the street from some grain silos.
They have been serving the folks f this town for over 20 years.
It was a cute restaurant inside with a fun retro feel, complete with a juke box.
They also had old pictures of the town on the wall. It was really cool to see what the main street looked like in the early 1900s.
The friendly waitress too our lunch order. I went for the potato pierogies. They fried them up so that the outside was crispy. The potato inside was hot and creamy. They sprinkled caramelized onions on top of all the pierogies. This added extra flavor with a hint of sweetness.
They served a side of sour cream. I normally do not eat pierogies with this. I did dip a few bites in to see what it tasted like. It really only added a tart taste to the potato.
The table also ordered a pizza to share. We got a supreme pizza. It was loaded with sausage, pepperoni, olives (both black and green), onions, ham and bacon. I loved all the combination of ingredients. The savory, salty, sweet flavors all worked perfectly together. The crust was a nice light dough. There was a hint of sweetness, but nothing that took away from the toppings.
This was a nice place to check out. I was glad I got to experience a little of the town Kinde. Visit their website at www.kindepastahouse.com
Enjoy!
T
